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Whether you teach class music, or are a peripatetic/private instrumental teacher, Music Teacher will provide you with invaluable ideas for your teaching, with substantial online lesson materials and a range of practical features. Packed with reviews, news, comment and debate, as well as the latest jobs, professional development opportunities and fantastic special offers, Music Teacher is all you need to teach music.

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Ofsted Surveys Now on iPad

25 September 2013

The Opinion Box, a specialist research data collection company, has integrated Ofsted's survey requirements into a user-friendly system which can be used on specially adapted iPads. These bespoke, interactive surveys are immediately analysed in realtime, freeing up hours of time for teachers.

This new system is particularly ideal at parent gatherings. Parents are free to enter their opinions anonymously, without the face-to-face pressure of answering members of staff directly - which can often be embarrassing and hold parents back from expressing their honest opinions. The Opinion Box uses its own software to ensure that survey questions are straightforward and simple, with several optional viewing and output formats.

One of the first schools to take up the iPad survey system is Alexandra College of Enterprise, a 1400-pupil comprehensive in the West Midlands. Assistant deputy headteacher, Julie Cornfield, was impressed with the results from a parents evening in June 2013: 'We were able to act on the survey's outcome the very next day,' she said. 'The system has freed us from an enormous amount of paperwork and data inputting and given us instant, in-depth analysis results that are reliable - with the bonus that more parents are now taking part. Now, over 85% of parents at an event will respond. Before, we were lucky to get 25% response.'

For more information on The Opinion Box visit their website, or call 07986 615183.

PRS for Music Launches Apprenticeships Scheme

24 September 2013

PRS for Music has just announced details of its new
apprenticeship programme which will run from November 2013-14. Two apprentices
will be recruited – one in IT, and another in business development. The initiative
is aimed at 16-24 year olds who are unemployed, and no previous degrees or
qualifications are necessary. The successful candidates will complete the
apprenticeship with a Level 3 NVQ.

Robert Ashcroft, chief executive of PRS for Music,
commented: ‘As the largest employer within the music industry we are delighted
to lead the way in offering a younger and vital generation an opportunity to
acquire skills and knowledge that will sustain them throughout their careers.’
The apprenticeship scheme goes alongside current PRS programmes offering
students work placements and paid internships in its member services
department, as well as the sponsorship of five students at the Brighton
Institute of Contemporary Music.

Free after-school CPD available this week

23 September 2013

Spaces are still available to sign up for free CPD sessions that are running this week in Bradford and London.

Trinity College London, in conjunction with Music for Youth, are offering free after-school CPD training for non-specialist primary teachers. Sessions will include creative ideas for classroom composition and music-making, and will be delivered by experienced workshop leaders. This week's sessions are as follows:

- 24 September: 5-7pm, central Bradford

- 25 September: 5-7pm, central Bradford

- 27 September: 4.30-6.30pm, Ealing, west London

To book your place, sign up via the Trinity website. For more information, email christopher.walters@trinitycollege.co.uk

Support needed for Arts Academy 'videorials'

18 September 2013

The Arts Academy has unveiled plans for a new initiative which it hopes will help motivate students to keep learning between lessons.

Video tutorials, or ‘videorials’, will tackle ‘every conceivable musical topic’ in an interactive way – so if a student is having basic problems tuning their instrument, or is struggling with more advanced questions of interpretation or technique, they will be able to get help from an Arts Academy professional. The videorials will be free to access, and will be published across all major social media networks.

Arts Academy founder and creative director Robert Emery is ‘extremely excited’ about this new project: ‘Learning an instrument is a terrific skill to have, and the disciplines you pick up in doing so have a big impact on many areas in life. The videorials will add real value to the Arts Academy’s portfolio of services.’

The Arts Academy is currently raising funds for this project. To support it, visit their campaign page.

On your marks...get set...

18 September 2013

ABRSM has just launched 'On Your Marks', a new interactive resource that will enable users to watch and assess a graded music exam for themselves. Teachers and candidates will both be able to see how their assessments match up to the new ABRSM marking criteria.

The tool, which is available on the ABRSM website, focuses on the four key elements of a grade 5 piano exam: set pieces, scales and arpeggios, sight reading and aural tests. Users will be able to view each element separately, and compare their results with those of the ABRSM chief examiner John Holmes.

More exam videos will be soon be integrated into the new resource. To try it out for yourself, click here.